Short Guided Hikes
Escape into the wilderness for 2 to 5 days – no experience necessary.
The Adventure Gene Difference
Our signature Ultralight Comfort System™ is designed to keep you warm, dry, safe and happy.
No prior hiking experience is needed to join us on any of our trips. You just need a good level of fitness.
Our guides are industry pioneers and winter experts. With over 40,000km of experience, you know you’re in safe hands.
We only provide small group experiences. With 2 guides and up to 10 guests, you’ll be well looked after and can walk at your own pace.
The Adventure Experts
Our short trips are designed for hikers who want to experience Australia’s wild places in a safe and beginner-friendly environment, without needing weeks off work.
Our Short Hikes
- Paint & Hike
- 4 days
- From $2,195
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Need help choosing a trip?
You don’t need any hiking experience to come on one of our trips. We make planning simple by providing premium ultralight gear and clothing, nutritious food and private transport from Canberra. Just pack your shoes and the clothes on your back!
The trip you choose will depend on three key factors: scenery, personal goals and difficulty.
Scenery
Each trip has its own distinct character. Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect:
Starting at Charlotte Pass, we cross the Snowy River and climb onto the Main Range, home to Australia’s highest peaks. Along the way, we detour to Blue Lake Lookout to see one of only four glacial cirque lakes on the mainland. We then pass Club Lake and Lake Albina before camping at Wilkinsons Creek, a peaceful spot known for its sunsets.
After catching the sunrise, it’s a short walk to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko (2228m), well before the crowds arrive. We then pass Seamans Hut, a granite refuge built in 1929, and cross the Snowy River once more on our way back to Charlotte Pass.
We begin at Guthega, following the Snowy River past historic Illawong Lodge before climbing toward the Main Range, with time for an afternoon swim at camp. The next day, we visit Blue Lake Lookout, pass Club Lake and Lake Albina, and summit Mt Kosciuszko (2228m), where the views can stretch beyond 100km on a clear day. We camp near Seamans Hut, renowned for its mountain sunsets.
Leaving the Main Range behind, we wind through twisted snow gums to the granite tors of Porcupine Rocks, a spectacular spot for both sunset and sunrise. Our final day descends through tall alpine ash forest to Bullocks Flat, finishing with a swim in the Thredbo River.
Just an hour from Canberra, we start in Namadgi National Park’s Orroral Valley. It’s home to a former Apollo tracking station and one of Australia’s densest kangaroo populations. Passing through eucalypt forest and granite tors, we camp in the Cotter Catchment before climbing to Murrays Gap, where you can summit Mt Bimberi (1913m), the highest point in the ACT.
Crossing into NSW, we head across the open high plains of Kosciuszko National Park to Old Currango Homestead (1873), the oldest historic hut in the park. Our final day is spent exploring Blue Waterholes, a striking landscape of limestone gorges and caves, finishing with a swim at the base of Cooleman Falls.
Just 1.5 hours from Canberra, the Budawangs offer a completely different experience to the Alps. Our route through Morton National Park follows the base of towering sandstone cliffs and weaves in and out of natural caves. Along the way, there are side trips to Corang Arch and the summit of Mt Tarn, and swims in cool lagoons and waterholes.
The highlight is Monolith Valley, a lost world of moss-covered rocks and temperate rainforest. From there, we scramble through Nibelung Pass to camp at Cooyoyo, where the views stretch all the way to the coast and the sunrise is one of the best in the Budawangs.
Personal goals
Your choice of trip also depends on your ultimate goal. If you only have a couple of days to spare, we recommend the Kosciuszko Summit Hike. It’s our shortest trip and a great first taste of camping in the mountains.
If summiting Mt Kosciuszko is on your bucket list, both the Kosciuszko Summit Hike and the Snowies Alpine Walk will get you there. The Snowies Alpine Walk gives you more time in the mountains, with extra nights at camp and plenty of chances to swim.
If you want the greatest variety of scenery, we recommend Mt Bimberi & Blue Waterholes. It takes you from granite-studded valleys and eucalypt forest to open high plains and limestone gorges.
Finally, if you’re after adventure and a real sense of remoteness, we recommend the Budawangs Traverse, with its caves, sandstone cliffs and rock scrambling.
Difficulty
Our short trips range from 2 to 5 days, and all require you to comfortably carry a ~10kg pack over uneven terrain. The average daily distance and elevation stats are below:
Kosciuszko Summit Hike (2 days): 11.5km (463m)
Snowies Alpine Walk (4 days): 13.2km (441m)
Mt Bimberi & Blue Waterholes (4 days): 13km (465m)
Budawangs Traverse (5 days): 5.9km (210m)
Daily walking times are generally between 4 and 8 hours, with the primary difference being how steep and technical the trail is.
The Kosciuszko Summit Hike and Snowies Alpine Walk are our easiest trips and are rated Easy – Moderate. Mt Bimberi & Blue Waterholes is rated Moderate, with some longer days and off-track walking. The Budawangs Traverse is the most challenging and is rated Moderate – Challenging. Despite its short daily distances, the terrain is rugged and slow going, with rock scrambling and a chain-assisted descent.
Short Hikes Calendar
Check out our trip calendar for a visual overview of all upcoming short hikes!
FAQs
Curious about our short trips? We’ve answered our most common questions to make planning your adventure stress-free.
I'm new to hiking, are your trips suitable for beginners?
Yes! You don’t need any prior hiking or camping experience to join us. We provide a detailed pre-trip preparation package, and our guides will teach you everything you need to know. The only prerequisite is your physical fitness. It is essential that you are capable of carrying a 10kg pack over uneven terrain.
Where do your trips go?
Our short trips explore four very different landscapes.
Kosciuszko Summit Hike
Cross the Main Range, home to Australia’s highest peaks and glacial lakes, and summit Mt Kosciuszko on this 2 day trip.
Snowies Alpine Walk
Spend 4 days in the Snowy Mountains, combining Mt Kosciuszko and the Main Range with snow gum woodlands, granite tors and alpine rivers.
Mt Bimberi & Blue Waterholes
Walk from Namadgi National Park into Kosciuszko National Park over 4 days, taking in the ACT’s highest peak, historic huts and the limestone gorges of Blue Waterholes.
Budawangs Traverse
Explore the sandstone cliffs, caves and rainforest of Morton National Park on this 5 day trip.
Am I fit enough?
All of our short trips require you to carry a 10kg pack over uneven terrain, including some off-track walking. To ensure you are ready, you will need to do some training before the trip. We highly recommend engaging in at least 3 hours of physical activity each week, such as running, cycling, swimming, team sports, or hiking up and down hills. Walking on flat pavement is not adequate preparation.
If you can, we also recommend doing a few practice walks carrying a loaded pack before we depart.
What do I need to bring?
We provide all the gear and outer-layer clothing as part of our Ultralight Comfort System™. This includes (but is not limited to) tents, sleeping bags, hiking packs, hiking poles, down jackets, down pants and fleece layers.
The only things you need to bring are your base layers and personal items:
Long-sleeve shirt and hiking pants
Shoes (either trail runners or hiking boots)
Socks and underwear
A hat and sunglasses
What’s included in the trip price?
Included in the trip price is the following:
- Use of world-class ultralight gear and clothing
- Cooked meals, snacks, and hot drinks (excluding breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on the last day)
- Return transport from Canberra
- 2 expert guides (a 1:5 guide-to-guest ratio)
- Pre-trip support and a detailed preparation package (including packing video)
What group sizes can I expect on a trip?
All trips are intentionally small, with up to 10 guests, accompanied by 2 guides. This ratio ensures a personal, comfortable, and well-paced experience.
Who will be guiding me?
All of our guides are highly experienced in navigating the Australian backcountry. While each guide brings their own unique style and interests to the trail, they all share a commitment to being supportive, knowledgeable, and ensuring your trip is one to remember. We will let you know who your guides are about a month before departure, though please note this can occasionally change on short notice.
Will I be cold?
All trips include access to our Ultralight Comfort System™. Designed by experts and curated from manufacturers around the world, this premium gear and clothing package is designed to keep you safe, warm, dry and happy in the mountains!
Our setup features double-walled tents, -8°C sleeping bags, and -20°C sleeping mats. We also supply fleece layers, down jackets and down pants. This keeps the vast majority of hikers warm, but we have extra layers ready if you tend to get cold easily.
I still have questions?
We know preparing for a trip brings up plenty of questions! Email or call us, and one of our senior guides will be more than happy to answer them.
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